Rolling machine roller finishing apparatus



P 1969 E. c. ARMSTRONG 3,468,075

ROLLING MACHINE ROLLER FINISHING APPARATUS Filed April 14, 1967 4Sheets-Sheet i;

INVENTOR.

ELTON C. ARMSTRONG BY ATTORNEYS p 23, 1969 E. c. ARMSTRONG 3,468,075

ROLLING MACHINE ROLLER FINISHING APPARATUS Filed April 14, 1967 4Sheets-Sheet 2 F|Gm3 INVENTOR. ELTON C. ARMSTRONG BY ATTORNEYS P 23,1969 E. c. ARMSTRONG ROLLING MACHINE ROLLER FINISHING APPARATUS 4Sheets-Sheet Filed April 14, 1967 I N TNTOR ELTON c. ARMSTRONG BY TATTORNEYS p 1969 E. c. ARMSTRONG 3,468,075

ROLLING MACHINE ROLLER FINISHING APPARATUS Filed April 14, 1967 4Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. ELTON C. ARMSTRONG BY MUM ATTORNEYS 3,468,075ROLLlNG MACHINE RQLL ER FINESHING APPARATUS Elton C. Armstrong, Fresno,Calif, assignor to Fix-A- Roll Co., Fresno, Calif. Filed Apr. 14, 1%7,Ser. No. 631,093 lint. Cl. lEZ th 19/00; little 19/26 US. Cl. 51254 3Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOS An apparatus for grinding the surface of arolling machine roller drum while the drum remains mounted on therolling machine and which includes adjustable supports for supportingthe rolling machine in an elevated position during grinding, and driverolls for rotating the drum to be ground. A multi-faced grinder on theapparatus is positioned to grind the roller drum surface by traversingthe drum surface parallel to the axis of rotation of the roller drum.

This invention relates to apparatus for refinishing large diameter rollsand, more particularly, to an apparatus for refinishing the roller drumson steel Wheel rollers without the necessity of removing the drums fromthe machines.

The roller drums on steel wheel rollers or steam rollers, hereinaftercalled rolling machines, are subject to substantial wear during use.Such rolling machines are used not only for compacting and smoothingbituminous surfaces but also in compacting aggregate, i.e., broken rockof varying size used as the under surface of driveways and of roads andhighways. The roller drums of rolling machines become abraded and pittedand, after a comparatively short time in use, no longer meet thestringent requirements of many state highway departments for smoothnessand squareness.

When the roller drums are no longer suitable for use because of failureto meet such standards, it has been the practice to remove the rollerdrum or drums from the rolling machine and ship them to a machine shopfor resurfacing on a large lathe or similar apparatus. Unless spareroller drums are available, the rolling machine will be out of servicefor a period of time ranging from one week to a month or more dependingupon the distance the drum must be shipped and the backlog in those fewmachine shops equipped to handle such large diameter rollers. If thecontractor cannot afford such down time, he is required to rent asubstitute rolling machine for the period of time his own will be out ofservice, thus adding to the substantial expenses involved.

The present invention is designed to refinish the surface of theseroller drums quickly and simply while the drums remain attached to therolling machine. This is accomplished in the present construction by anovel arrangement which holds a rolling machine roller drum elevated,rotates the roller drum on its own bearings and refinishes the surfaceof the drum.

In its broadest scope the present invention permits resurfacing ofrolling machine roller drums in the field. No prior art apparatus hasbeen found which permits the accomplishment of such a result.

In its narrow sense the invention accomplishes rotation of a rollingmachine roller drum on its own bearings while the roller drum iselevated from the ground. By rotating the roller drum on its ownbearings and aligning a smoothing apparatus with the axis of rotation,the roller drum surface may be refinished so that it is both smooth andconcentric to its axis of rotation.

The preferred embodiment of the invention combines a reciprocating,multi-faceted grinder with a series of hired tates te small diameterrolls for rotating the drum during the grinding operation and includesadjustable arms for supporting the weight of the rolling machine. Thesearms not only support the rolling machine, but also permit varying theelevation of the drum so that it rests lightly on the power rolls. Thisallows controlled rotation of the roller during grinding of its surface.A feature of the invention resides in providing for adjustment of theposition of the grinder relative to the roller drum surface so that therefinished surface will be true to the axis of rotation of the rollerdrum.

In the preferred embodiment, the drive rolls are in sets, spaced aparton two parallel drive shafts to permit the circumference of the pavingroller to be driven at two separated longitudinal axes. The drivingrolls preferably are turned by means of a motor and gearing or chaindrive so that the rotation of the drive rolls is in concert.

The grinder assembly in the preferred embodiment is mounted on aseparate base from the drive rolls in order to permit the entire grinderassembly to be moved relative to the drive rolls. Thus, the grinder maybe set up parallel to the axis of rotation of the roller drum andmaintained in that relative position during the entire resurfacingoperation. The grinder itself is mounted on a carriage, which in turn ismounted on a pair of parallel, highly finished, steel shafts which serveto support the grinding carriage and accurately guide the carriage as ittravels longitudinally parallel to the face of the roller drum. Thelongitudinal movement of the grinder carriage is accomplished by meansof a continuous chain driven by a separate power source. Connection ofthe grinder carriage to the power source is through a unique lock-onarrangement which permits the grinder carriage to be easily connected tothe moving chain drive and to be as easily disconnected therefrom.

The grinding face is made up either of a multi-face grinding wheelhaving separate wheels, each of a slightly different diameter bondedtogether, or of a single wheel having multidiameter faces. The use ofsuch a multifaceted grinding wheel arrangement permits the roller drumto be resurfaced in a single pass since the smallest diameter face,which has the coarsest grit, is used to take the roughing cut. Thelarger diameter faces then follow over the semi-finished face of theroller drum. The grinding wheel with the finest grit has the largestdiameter and makes the finish cut immediately adjacent the other cuts.

The entire combination therefore permits the roller drums on a rollingmachine to be refinished quickly and easily in the field while the drumsare still on the machine, a result not known heretofore to be availablein any single apparatus or in any combination thereof.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent upon reading the following specification and referring to theaccompanying drawings in which corresponding numerals representcorresponding parts in each of the several views.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the refinishing apparatus with the frontroller drum of a rolling machine mounted thereof;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of one end of the roller drumshowing an alternative method of supporting the rolling machine;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the grinding apparatus showing the relativerelationship of the drive mechanism and the grinding carriage;

FIG. 4 is a cross section of the grinding apparatus along the line 4-4in FIG. 3 and showing a roller drum mounted on the drive rolls and thegrinding wheel in position to resurface the circumference of the rollerdrum;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the stepped grinding wheelmaking a cut across the face of the roller drum;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged front view showing the transverse feed lock forthe grinder carriage;

FIG. 7 is a side view of the transverse feed lock in partial section;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged front elevation of the cross feed lock for thegrinder carriage; and

FIG. 9 is a side elevation of the grinder carriage cross feed lock inpartial section.

The general arrangement of the apparatus is shown in FIG. 1. Theapparatus comprises four major parts: the grinder carriage assembly Awhich includes the transverse feed and cross feed for the grinder; thedrive assembly B for the roller drum; the adjustable compression rods Cwhich support the weight of the rolling machine; and the axle spindlesD. The roller drum of the rolling machine is designated as E.

As may be seen in FIG. 4, the entire grinder assembly is mounted on asubstantial frame or base 22. The multifaceted grinding wheel 24 and itsdrive motor 26 are connected together by V-belts 28. The drive motor,grinding wheels and V-belts together with their supporting bearings areall mounted on a supporting plate 30, which in turn is carried on a pairof parallel shafts 32 by means of bushings 33. The parallel shafts 32are in turn mounted on the grinder carriage 34. A cross feed screw isattached between the grinder carriage 34 and the support plate 30 inorder to move the mounted grinding wheel along the shafts 32 toward andaway from the roller drum. The screw of the cross feed is turned bymeans of handle 36. Provision is made by means of the cross feed locks42 to maintain the relative transverse position of the grinder mountedon plate 30 with respect to the grinder carriage and with respect to thecircumference of the roller drum to be refinished.

The grinder carriage 34 is carried on a plurality of ball bushings 38 orsimilar way bearings which ride along a pair of highly finished steelshafts 40 rigidly mounted on the frame 22. The combination of ballbushings and the shafts 40 permits the grinder assembly to move on anaccurate lateral path along the face of the roller drum.

This movement is accomplished automatically by means of a powered chainfeed. A continuous roller chain 44 is mounted on sprockets 46 at eitherend of the grinder carriage frame 22. A small motor 43 and gear reducer50 provide appropriate power to move the chain 44-.

A unique carriage feed lock 52 is mounted on the carriage. The detailsof its construction are shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. The feed lock comprisesa sprocket segment 53 rigidly mounted on a pair of carrying spindles 54which pass through the grinder support plate 30. Link 55 passes throughcam 56 and connects the spindles S4. Springs 57 are retained between thesprocket segment 53 and the plate 30. A handle 58 serves to operate thelocking mechanism. FIGS. 6 and 7 show the lock in operative condition,that is, when the sprocket segment is engaged with the roller chain 44to traverse the grinder carriage across the face of the rolling machineroller drum. When the handle is moved 90 to the vertical position, thesprocket segment 53 is lifted and is disengaged from the roller chain 44since the link is located off-center with respect to the cam surface 59.

When the handle 58 of the carriage feed lock 52 is in the position shownin FIG. 7, the sprocket segment 53 engages the roller chain 44. When themotor 48 is turned on, the chain will be moved and will traverse thegrinder carriage along the roller drum.

The details of the cross feed locks 42 are shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. Theconstruction of these locks is similar to that of the carriage feedlocks 52 illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, the primary difference betweenthem being that the sprocket segment 53 in the carriage feed locks 52 isreplaced by a pad 90 to which is affixed a block of friction material92. The other parts of the lock are the spindles 4- 94, the link 95, thecam 96, the springs 97, the handle 98, and the cam surface 99. Theselocks are mounted on the grinder support plate 30, the friction materialbearing against the base portion 35 of grinder carriage 34.

The grinding wheel 24 may be a composite wheel having a plurality ofstepped faces or, as is shown in FIG. 5-, may be made up of a series ofseparate wheels fastened together coaxially. The coarest grit grindingface 60 has the smallest diameter, with slightly larger diametergrinding faces 61, 62 and 63 having successively finer grit. FIG. 5 alsoshows that the grinding wheel is traversed so that the smallest diametergrinding face 60 is the first to contact the roller drum E. This face 60commences the smoothing operation across the rough roller drum surface64-; the operation is completed by the finest grinding face 63 whichtakes the finish cut, leaving a straight, smooth surface 66 on theroller drum E.

The details of the drive assembly B may be seen in FIG. 3. The driverolls 68 are mounted on a pair of parallel shafts 70. These shafts aresupported by a plurality of pillow block bearings '71 for maximumsupport. Power for the drive rolls is supplied by a motor 72 which isconnected to a gear reducer '73 which, in turn, is connected through achain and sprocket drive 74 to the shafts 70.

Compression rods C, received on either end of the base 75 of the driveassembly B, are used to support the weight of one end of the rollingmachine. These compression rods are made up of lower support member 76,turnbuckle 77, and upper support member 78. At the end of the uppersupport member 78 is a split support block 70 made up of a lower jaw 79and an upper jaw 80 fastened together by bolts 81. The support members76 and 78 are threaded so that the length of the compression rodassemblies may be adjusted to control the compression of the roller drumE against the drive rolls 68. The relationship of these parts is shownin FIG. 4.

The lower support member 76 of the compression rods C is formed with aneyelet 83 adapted to receive a shaft 85 of substantial diameter. Theshaft in turn is rigidly atlixed to the base 75 by means of clamps 87.Provision is made in the base 75 for affixing the clamps 87 at numerouspoints along the base so that the compression rods may be properlyspaced apart for supporting roller drums of varying lengths.

The compression rod assemblies C must be used with axle spindles D inorder to support the rolling machine. There are various methods used bythe manufacturers of rolling machines to fasten the roller drums to themachine. On some machines a simple axle spindle as is shown in FIG. 1may be afiixed to the roller axle. Occasionally, the rolling machineaxle will not accommodate a single spindle and a flat steel plate havinga pair of steel shafts 82 to accommodate the compression rod assembliesC, as is shown in FIG. 2, is required.

In use, the rolling machine is brought to a convenient area where therefinishing may be done. The first step is to affix an axle spindle D tothe paving machine. The machine is raised by means of high-capacitylifting jacks such as the jack 84 shown in FIG. 1. The drive assembly Bis then placed under the elevated roller E, the jacks having raised therolling machine only enough to place the drive assembly B in positionunder the roller drum E. The compression rods C are then affixed to thedrive assembly and to the axle spindle D at either end of the rollerdrum E. The compression rods may then be adjusted by turning theturnbuckles 77 to vary the elevation of the roller drum and to place theproper amount of pressure on the drive rolls 68.

Then, the grinder assembly A is placed in position adjacent to theroller drive assembly B and aligned with the axis of rotation of theroller drum E. This may be accomplished by means of a dial indicator ora similar device fastened to the grinder base plate 30, and traversedacross the face of the roller drum.

After the grinder carriage is aligned with the axis of rotation of theroller drum, the base of the grinder carriage assembly A and the base ofthe drive roll assembly B are fastened together by means of a steelplate 86 afiixed to one of the bases and having an elongated hole 89within which a bolt or bolts 88 traverse for adjustment. Tightening ofthe bolts 88 will lock the two bases in a fixed, relative position.

At this point the grinding wheel 24 is placed in position at one end ofthe roller drum E and the transverse adjustment is made by means ofcrank 36 so that the smallest diameter 60 of the grinding wheel maystart making its cut first. The motor 72 of the drive assembly is thenstarted to rotate the roller drum E. Motor 48 is started to cause thechain 44 to move in its path parallel to the edge of the roller drum,and the grinder motor 26 is started. The carriage feed lock is thenmoved to engage the sprocket segment 53 with the moving chain 44 inorder to begin the traverse of the grinder carriage along the rotatingface of the roller drum. Provision may be made for a micro switch orsimilar switch at one end of the grinder carriage assembly so that whenthe grinder carriage has completed its passage across the roller drumface, motor 48 will be shut down and the traversing movement stoppedautomatically,

After the finish cut has been taken, the surface may be checked foralignment by traversing a dial indicator affixed to the grinder carriagealong the finished roller drum. If the results are satisfactory, theapparatus may be removed from its position, that end of the rollingmachine lowered, and the process repeated using the same steps on theother roller drum on the rolling machine.

These and other modifications of my invention may be practiced, it beingunderstood that the form of my invention as described above is to betaken as a preferred example of the same. Such description has been byway of illustration and example for purposes of clarity ofunderstanding. Various changes and modifications may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit of my invention as limited only by the scopeof the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a machine for grinding large diameter rollers, the combinationcomprising: means to rotate an elongated, large diameter roller whilesaid means is in contact therewith; and carriage movable along theroller and having a rotatable grinding wheel mounted for transversemovement thereon; and a plurality of supports disposed at opposite endsof the roller, said supports being adjustable to vary the pressure ofthe contact between the roller and the rotation means, power meansengageable with said carriage for moving said carriage along theworkpiece; means coupled with the mounting of said grinding wheel formoving said wheel transversely to said carriage for contacting saidworkpiece; and means to lock said mounting against transverse movementafter the mounting has been placed in a position in which the grinding'wheel is in contact with the roller surface, said locking meanscomprising friction material mounted for engagement with the carriage, aspring secured between said friction material and said grinding wheelmounting for biasing said friction material against said carriage andmeans for moving said friction material out of engagement.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 and including means for coupling said powermeans and said carriage and wherein said coupling means comprises: asprocket segment movable into engagement with a moving chain, a springsecured between said plate and said grinding wheel mounting for biasingsaid segment against said moving chain, and means for moving saidsegment out of engagement with said chain.

3. In a machine for grinding large diameter rollers, the combinationcomprising: means to rotate an elongated, large diameter roller whilesaid means is in contact therewith; a carriage movable along the rollerand having a rotatable grinding wheel mounted for transverse movementthereon; a plurality of supports disposed at opposite ends of theroller, said supports being adjustable to vary the pressure of thecontact between the roller and the rotation means, the rotation meansand the support means mounted together on a base and the carriagecarrying the grinding wheel separately mounted on its own base, andlocking means coupling the bases to permit the carriage base to be movedinto a position in alignment with the workpiece and locked in thatposition so that the carriage moves only in a path parallel to thelongitudinal edge of the workpiece.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,119,862 6/1938 Keller.1,888,589 11/1932 Egnor 5l49 X 3,165,865 1/1965 Bousquet et al. 5l2512,622,373 12/ 1952 Stahlecker et al. 5l48 2,016,590 10/1935 BuSSing 5l49X FOREIGN PATENTS 565,844 12/ 1932 Germany.

JAMES L. JONES, 111., Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 5 150

